Einstein had changed into a baggy tweed coat that flapped about him as he walked. He had an old leather bag slung over one shoulder, a tightly furled umbrella in one hand, and his untidy hair had been crammed into a wide-brimmed hat. He looked full of himself, happy and puffed up. This was his expedition after all.

‘Don’t let that guy screw things up,’ said Maxie. ‘Don’t let him take you anywhere stupid. Don’t let him take you away from me.’

Chapter 19

19

Justin at last managed to draw level with Einstein and put a hand on his arm, holding him back from joining the main group. Einstein stopped and bared his green teeth at Justin in a horsey grin, wafting bad breath into his face.

‘I’ve told you, Justin, there’s no point in banging on and on about this. It’s getting bo-or-ring.’

‘All I’m saying is there’s nobody else here as clever as you, Einstein. We won’t get anywhere without you running the research department. You are the bloody research department.’

‘That’s why I have to lead the expedition,’ said Einstein. ‘It’s my party. I’m the only one who knows what we need to pick up. I can’t just send a shopping list out with these morons, it’s not that simple.’

Justin snorted with embarrassed laughter and shushed Einstein.

‘Don’t let them hear you calling them that,’ he said, keeping his voice low.

‘Well, they are morons,’ said Einstein. ‘Look at them!’

Achilleus was now trying to swipe a tennis ball off Paddy’s head with a lethal-looking sword. Justin sniggered.

‘I want this to go well,’ said Einstein. ‘It’s not every day we get this opportunity. And because it’s important, I’m doing it.’

‘What you mean is you want the glory, don’t you?’ said Justin. ‘You want Chris Marker and his scribes to write you up in their history books.’

‘Look around you, Justin. All the great men in this museum, the scientists and doctors, Darwin and the rest of them, they made their names by going out and discovering stuff. So yes, that’s what I’m doing.’

‘All right. But I doubt we’ll get much done with you away.’

‘I’ve left notes, clear instructions. Gordy’s going to be in charge while I’m gone. You just carry on with what we’ve been doing, more of the same, and I’ll be back by tomorrow.’

‘There’s not much to do really,’ said Justin. ‘Since our tame sickos got out we don’t have any specimens to take samples from.’

‘Then find some more,’ said Einstein airily, waving his hand in the air as if all Justin had to do was go and pick some up at the local shops. ‘I don’t know why you didn’t just get them to catch one on the lower level while they were down there.’